ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Schedule of VIEs (Details) - Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
NHP/PMB L.P.
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	$ 645,846	$ 645,109
Total Liabilities	202,200	203,235
Ventas Realty Capital Healthcare Trust Operating Partnership, L.P.
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	2,165,226	2,367,296
Total Liabilities	162,019	233,600
Other identified VIEs
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	1,886,133	1,582,430
Total Liabilities	381,933	431,582
Wexford tax credit VIEs
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	982,233	0
Total Liabilities	$ 223,723	$ 0